Webb’s Peccary Scholars Announce 2021-22 Projects

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Some 30 Webb students announced their 2021-22 paleontological research topics during the 2021 Peccary Society Dinner on Oct. 23, describing projects that range from turtles and birds to sharks, carnivores and, of course, dinosaurs.

Alf Museum Director Dr. Andrew Farke introduced the students as Rogers Peccary Scholars during the event. Rogers Peccary Scholars, supported by the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, conduct original research into discoveries made by the Alf Museum during student-centered fossil-hunting trips.

The 30 students include those in their first and second year of Advanced Studies Paleontology Research, a course offered only at Webb. About 50 papers authored by Webb students through the program have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

“These students have demonstrated sustained dedication to paleontology,” Farke said. “They are discovering new knowledge.”

PROJECTS

First-year Advanced Studies Students

• Emilia Bordage ’23 – sauropod bone development
• Logan Causley ’22 – therapods, Mesaverde Formation
• Elizabeth Chai ’23 – turtles, Mesaverde Formation
• Clarence Deng ’23 – sharks, Mesaverde Formation
• Andy Fu ’23 – hadrosaur, Mesaverde Formation
• Valeria Gonzales ’23 – turtles, Mesaverde Formation
• Aidan Helgeson ’23 – turtles, Lance Formation
• Daniel Hu ’23 – Hesperornis, Mesaverde Formation
• Pierre Sun ’23 – Hesperornis, Mesaverde Formation
• Zachary Wang ’23 – Hesperonis, Mesaverde Formation
• Terrence Wu ’23 – turtles, Mesaverde Formation
• Samuel Zeiden ’23 – sharks, Mesaverde Formation

Second-year Advanced Studies Students

• Richard Alrachid ’22 – first known skull of the multituberculate Neoliotomus
• Josephine Burdekin ’22, first record of the lizard Aciprion formosum, Montana
• Mikey Chai, ’22 – first record of the lizard Aciprion formosum, Montana 
• Nathan Choi ’22 – a partial antelope skeleton, Barstow Formation, California
• Christopher Chung ’22 – the first known skull of the multituberculate Neoliotomus
• Joseph Ferrari ’22 – Parectypodus mckennai, a new species of multituberculate, Goler Formation, California
• Emma Holliday ’22 – new records of marsupials and rodents, Gravelly Range, Montana
• Rachel Hong ’22 – an articulated foot and jaw of Aleurodon, Barstow Formation, California
• Yvonne Kan ’22 – Parectypodus mckennai, a new species of multituberculate, Goler Formation, California
• Alexander Kong ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana 
• Catherine Li ’22 – the first known skull of the multituberculate Neoliotomus
• Laura Li ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana
• William Li ’22 – a nearly near complete camel skeleton, Barstow Formation, California 
• Caroline Metz ’22 – two new specimens of the rare carnivore Palaeogale, Montana
• Allison Paik, ’22 – two new specimens of the rare carnivore Palaeogale, Montana
• Hank Sun ’22 – new records of marsupials and rodents, Gravelly Range, Montana
• Blake Suttner ’22 – two new specimens of the rare carnivore Palaeogale, Montana
• Jonathan Yu ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana